Endoscope device

ABSTRACT

An endoscope device including an insertion part including an observation optical system and a measuring optical system, wherein the endoscope device is provided with a characteristic value comparing circuit  85  which compares previous characteristic values and current characteristic values to identify previous characteristic values corresponding to the current characteristic values, and when storing the current characteristic values, current characteristic values corresponding to the previous characteristic values, identified by the characteristic value comparing circuit  85 , are stored in a storage circuit C 2  together with various information. According to the invention, for inspecting turbine blades of jet engines, automation (labor-saving) of the inspection process by reducing the number of the inspection steps is realized and the difficulty in the inspection of analysis areas is eliminated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an endoscope device.

This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2005-358562, filed on Dec. 13, 2005, the entiredisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, to inspect turbine blades of jet engines or the like, anendoscope device is used. For example, an endoscope device, of which animaging part including a camera is inserted into a jet engine andextracts a line by an edge extraction method from a blade image capturedby the imaging part and determines whether the turbine blades havedefects from discontinuity of the extracted line, is provided (refer toUS 2004/0183900A1). Such type of endoscope device uses a method inwhich, when a defect of the turbine blades exceeds a predeterminedvalue, an inspection operator is informed of this by automated voice.

On the other hand, for inspecting the turbine blades, an inspectionmethod is provided in which turbine blades are three-dimensionallycaptured (stereoscopically captured) from two positions shifted by anappropriate distance from each other, and it is determined whether theturbine blades have a defect based on the two captured photos (refer toJapanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No H08-228993). Aninspection method is also provided in which, from the blade imagesobtained by stereoscopically imaging the turbine blades according to theabove-described inspection method, a line is extracted by an edgeextraction method, and it is accurately determined whether the turbineblades have a defect or not (refer to Japanese Published UnexaminedPatent Application No. 2002-336188).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An endoscope device according to the present invention includes aninsertion part which is provided with an observation optical systemwhich captures a plurality of analysis areas for observation. Theendoscope also includes a measuring optical system which captures theanalysis areas in order to be measured, The endoscope device includes: anumbering part which numbers observation images of each area captured bythe observation optical system; a measuring part which extractsmeasuring information based on measuring images of each area captured bythe measuring optical system; a first storage part which stores firstanalysis area information including the observation images numbered bythe numbering part and corresponding measuring information of theanalysis areas associated with the observation images extracted by themeasuring part; a second storage part which stores second analysis areainformation including new observation images captured by the observationoptical system and newly numbered by the numbering part and newmeasuring information of the corresponding analysis areas associatedwith the new observation images newly extracted by the measuring part;and an identifying recognition part which identifies the first analysisarea information corresponding to the second analysis area informationby comparing the first analysis area information and the second analysisarea information. When the second storage part newly stores the secondanalysis area information, the first storage part stores the secondanalysis area information corresponding to the first analysis areainformation identified by the identifying recognition part in additionto the first analysis area information.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the measuring optical system alsoserves as the observation optical system.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the endoscope device includes amovement operating part which successively moves the analysis areas sothat the analysis areas are captured by the observation optical systemand by the measuring optical system. When the movement operating partmoves one of a plurality of the analysis areas and when the movementoperating part moves the plurality of the analysis areas so that theplurality of the analysis areas make one revolution, the movementoperating part informs the measuring part or the numbering parts ofthis.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the measuring part is provided witha characteristic extracting part which extracts multiple kinds ofcharacteristics from the measuring information, and the first storagepart and the second storage part store the multiple kinds ofcharacteristics as a part of the measuring information.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, multiple kinds of characteristicsto be extracted by the characteristic extracting part are cracks,fractures, dents, and damages including other deformations of theanalysis area.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the measuring part is provided witha characteristic value converting part which converts the multiple kindsof characteristics into multiple kinds of characteristic values, whichwas normally quantified by a predetermined evaluating calculation, andthe first storage part and the second storage part store the multiplekinds of characteristic values as a part of the measuring information.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the measuring part is provided witha comprehensive characteristic value deriving part which derivescomprehensive characteristic values of the analysis areas by weightingand summing up the multiple kinds of characteristics, and the firststorage part and the second storage part store the multiple kinds ofcomprehensive characteristic values as a part of the measuringinformation.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the endoscope device includes anevaluating part which evaluates the first analysis area information andthe second analysis area information.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the endoscope device includes ajudging part which determines whether the analysis areas are conformingor nonconforming based on the evaluation made by the evaluating part.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the measuring optical systemincludes two or more imaging parts whose installation positions areshifted from each other, and stereoscopically captures the analysisareas.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the measuring optical systemincludes an imaging part which captures the analysis area according to alight-section method, and stereoscopically captures the analysis area.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the insertion part is provided withan illuminating part which illuminates an analysis area.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the insertion part is provided withan elongated member which extends in parallel in an axial direction ofthe insertion part and is movable toward and away from the insertionpart via a link member, and the elongated member is provided with anilluminating part, which is arranged in line in a longitudinaldirection, which illuminates the analysis area.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, two or more sets of the measuringoptical systems are provided in a longitudinal direction of theinsertion part.

Preferably, in the endoscope device, the sets of the measuring opticalsystems are shifted from each other in a circumferential direction ofthe insertion part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an entire external view of an endoscope device;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing details of a fixture;

FIG. 3 is an external view of an endoscope;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an insertion part of the endoscope of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a controller;

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the insertion part of the endoscope insertedin a jet engine;

FIG. 7A is one of the drawings showing a positioning operation performedby a blade position detecting circuit;

FIG. 7B is one of the drawings showing a positioning operation performedby a blade position detecting circuit;

FIG. 7C is one of the drawings showing a positioning operation performedby a blade position detecting circuit;

FIG. 8A is one of the drawings showing characteristic (damage)extraction performed by a blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 8B is one of the drawings showing characteristic (damage)extraction performed by a blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 8C is one of the drawings showing characteristic (damage)extraction performed by a blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 8D is one of the drawings showing characteristic (damage)extraction performed by a blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 9A is one of the drawings showing the details of the characteristicextraction of FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D;

FIG. 9B is one of the drawings showing the details of the characteristicextraction of FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D;

FIG. 10A is one of the drawings showing characteristic (stain)extraction performed by the blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 10B is one of the drawings showing characteristic (stain)extraction performed by the blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 10C is one of the drawings showing characteristic (stain)extraction performed by the blade characteristic extracting circuit;

FIG. 11A is one of the drawings showing three-dimensional shapeextraction performed by a surface shape recognition circuit;

FIG. 11B is one of the drawings showing three-dimensional shapeextraction performed by a surface shape recognition circuit;

FIG. 12 is a drawing showing an example of a result of inspection;

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing an example of a result of inspection;

FIG. 14 is an external view showing another example of an endoscope;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an insertion part of the endoscope ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a laser line measuring device;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the controller of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18 is a display image of a blade irradiated with a laser beam;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of steps to be performed by the endoscope ofFIG. 14;

FIG. 20 is an external view showing another example of an endoscope;

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of an insertion part of the endoscope ofFIG. 20;

FIG. 22A is a back view of the endoscope of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22B is a sectional view of the endoscope of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22C is a schematic view showing an imaging direction of an imagingpart;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the controller of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the best mode of an endoscope device of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an entire external view of an endoscope device.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the details of a fixture.

FIG. 3 is an external view of an endoscope

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an insertion part of the endoscope of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a controller.

FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the insertion part of the endoscope insertedin a jet engine.

FIG. 7A to FIG. 7C are drawings showing a positioning operationperformed by a blade position detecting circuit.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D are drawings showing characteristic (damage)extraction performed by a blade characteristic extracting circuit,

FIG. 9A to FIG. 9C are drawings showing the details of thecharacteristic extraction of FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D.

FIG. 10A to FIG. 10C are drawings showing characteristic (coloring)extraction performed by the blade characteristic extracting circuit.

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are drawings showing three-dimensional shapeextraction performed by a surface shape recognition circuit.

FIG. 12 is a drawing showing an example of result of the inspection.

FIG. 13 is a drawing showing an example of result of the inspection.

FIG. 14 is an external view showing another example of an endoscope.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an insertion part of the endoscope ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a laser line measuring device.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the controller of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a display image of a blade irradiated with a laser beam.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the steps to be performed by the endoscope ofFIG. 14.

FIG. 20 is an external view showing another example of an endoscope.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of an insertion part of the endoscope ofFIG. 20.

FIG. 22A to FIG. 22C are a back view and a sectional view of theendoscope of FIG. 20 and a schematic view showing an imaging directionof an imaging part.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the controller of FIG. 20.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

The reference symbol 1 attached to FIG. 1 denotes an endoscope deviceaccording to the present invention. This endoscope device 1 includes aside viewing type hard endoscope (hereinafter, referred to as anendoscope) 10, and is used for inspecting turbine blades (correspondingto analysis areas in the present invention) installed inside a jetengine J. Although it is not particularly illustrated, the turbineblades (hereinafter, referred to as blades) H are installed so as toextend radially at appropriate intervals in a circumferential directionof a rotary shaft (not shown) to constitute a turbine.

By rotating this rotary shaft, the blades move in the circumferentialdirection of the rotary shaft. A turbine installed in the jet engine Jis constructed by arranging 31 blades H (H1 through H31) so as to extendradially from the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft atappropriate intervals. The endoscope device 1 observes the turbineblades H by inserting the endoscope 10 into the jet engine J. Aninsertion part 20 of the endoscope 10 is inserted into the jet engine Jfrom an access port 51 a, which is located on the jet engine J, tocapture an image of the blades H, and when the insertion part 20 of theendoscope 10 is inserted into the jet engine J, a fixture 50 detachablymounted near this access port 51 a is used.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fixture 50 fixes the insertion part 20 of theendoscope 10 so as to insert the insertion part of the endoscope 10through the access port 51 a of the jet engine J, and fixing legs 52 and53 include first links 56 a and 57 a rotatably fixed via pins 54 a and55 a, second links 56 b and 57 b rotatably fixed to the tip ends of thefirst links 56 a and 57 a via link pins 54 b and 55 b, and presserplates 58 and 59 rotatably fixed to the tip ends of the second links 56b and 57 b via pins 54 c and 55 c. The first links 56 a and 57 a and thesecond links 56 b and 57 b are provided with springs 54 d and 55 d whichenergize the links so as to draw these to each other.

The fixture 50 thus constituted is mounted by attaching the presserplates 58 and 59 on the wall face of the jet engine J. At the centralportion of this fixture 50, a mount part 51 b communicated with theaccess port 51 a of the jet engine J is provided. Inside this mount part51 b, a slide cylinder (not shown) which holds the insertion part of theendoscope is fitted in a manner enabling it to be extracted.

This slide cylinder is inserted into and extracted from the mount part51 b by unillustrated rack and pinion while holding the insertion part20 of the endoscope 10. When the insertion part 20 is inserted into thejet engine J. by an imaging part provided in the insertion part 20, theblades H inside the jet engine J are captured as an image.

On the proximal side of the insertion part 20 of the endoscope 10, ahandle 11 is provided, and from this handle 11, an end of a connectioncable 52 is connected, To the other end of the connection cable 52, acontroller (device main body) 60 is connected. The controller 60processes images of the blades captured by the endoscope 10, reads anddisplays stored images, and operates a turning tool 66. In thiscontroller 60, a remote controller 61 and a foot switch 62 for properlyoperating the controller 60 are provided. In this controller 60, amonitor display 65 for displaying images captured by the endoscope 10 isprovided. This controller 60 is connected with the turning tool(corresponding to the movement operating part of the present invention)66 for rotating the blades H inside the jet engine J.

Next, the endoscope 10 will be described. As shown in the external viewof FIG. 3 and the sectional view of FIG. 4, the endoscope 10 mainlyincludes the handle 11 and the thin and elongated insertion part 20provided so as to extend straight outward from the tip end of the handle11.

The insertion part 20 is a part to be inserted into the jet engine J,and on its tip end 20 a side, a measuring optical system M which alsoserves as the observation optical system of the present invention isprovided.

That is, the insertion part 20 mainly includes a cylindrical casing 21which has a tip end closed like a bottom and is formed long and thin, afirst imaging part 22 and a second imaging part 23 installed inside thecylindrical casing 21, and an illuminating part 30 installed between thefirst imaging part 22 and the second imaging part 23. On the outersurface of the tip end 20 a side of the cylindrical casing 21, threewindows arranged in the axial direction of the insertion part 20 (afirst observation window 22 a, an illumination window 31, and a secondobservation window 23 a) are penetrated in line at even intervals. Fromthe penetrated first observation window 22, illumination window 31, andsecond observation window 23 a, the first imaging part 22, theilluminating part 30, and the second imaging part 23 are exposed tooutside.

The first imaging part 22 includes a first lens frame 22 b fitted in thefirst observation window 22 a, a first objective lens 22 c fitted in thefirst lens frame 22 b, and a first observation board 22 e including afirst CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor 22 dattached to the inner side of the first lens frame 22 b. This first CMOSimage sensor 22 d is disposed at a focal position of the first objectivelens 22 c and fixed by the first observation board 22 e which is fixedby the lens frame 22 b. To this first observation board 22 e, a firstobservation signal line 22 f is connected, and this first observationsignal line 22 f is connected to the controller 60 through the inside ofthe connection cable 52 described above. The second imaging part 23 isconstructed similarly to this first imaging part 22, so that thereference symbols (22 a through 22 f) attached in the second imagingpart 22 are attached in the drawing by replacing “22 ” thereof by “23, ”and descriptions thereof are omitted.

The illuminating part 30 is constructed so that a white LED 33 is fixedto an LED fixing frame 32 fitted in the illumination window 31. To thiswhite LED 33, an LED power supply line 34 is connected, and is connectedto the controller 60 through the inside of the connection cable 52similarly to the above-described observation signal line 22. Theinsertion part 20 thus constructed is inserted into the jet engine J bythe above-described fixture 50. The first imaging part 22 and the secondimaging part 23 constituted as described above constitute theobservation optical system of the present invention which captures theplurality of blades H for observation and also constitute the measuringoptical system of the present invention which captures images of theblades for measurement.

Next, the controller 60 to which the first imaging part and the secondimaging part are connected, constituting the measuring optical system,will be described. As shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 5, thecontroller 60 includes various types of memory and circuits connected bya data bus 70. These types of memory and circuits are controlled by aCPU 72 connected to the data bus 70 based on a program memory 71connected to the data bus 70.

The various types of memories will be described. The types of memoryinclude a first frame memory 61 to be connected to the first imagingpart 22 and a second frame memory 62 to be connected to the secondimaging part 23, and these frame memories 61 and 62 are connected to thedata bus 70. These frame memories 61 and 62 temporarily store data(hereinafter, referred to as imaging data) captured by the first imagingpart 22 and the second imaging part 23, and this stored imaging data canbe transmitted to the respective circuits via the data bus 70. As othermemories to be connected to the data bus 70, a display frame memory 63to be connected to the above-descried monitor display 65 is connected tothe data bus 70. This display frame memory 63 stores appropriate displaydata.

Next, various circuits connected to the data bus 70 to which the variousmemories 61, 62, and 63 are connected will be described. These variouscircuits mainly include a numbering circuit (corresponding to thenumbering part) which numbers observation images of the respectiveanalysis areas captured by the measuring optical system H that alsoserves as an observation optical system, a measuring circuit(corresponding to the measuring part) which extracts measuringinformation based on measuring images of the respective analysis areascaptured by the measuring optical system H, a first storage circuit(corresponding to the first storage part) which stores the firstanalysis area information including the observation images numbered bythe numbering circuit and corresponding measuring information of theanalysis areas associated with the observation images extracted by themeasuring circuit, a second storage circuit (corresponding to the secondstorage part) which stores second analysis area information includingnew observation images newly captured by the observation optical systemand newly numbered by the numbering circuit and corresponding newmeasuring information of the analysis areas associated with the newobservation images newly extracted by the measuring circuit, and anidentifying recognition circuit (corresponding to the identifyingrecognition part) which identifies the first analysis area informationcorresponding to the second analysis area information by comparing thefirst analysis area information and the second analysis areainformation.

To the data bus 70, a turning tool communication circuit 90, which isconnected to the above-described turning tool 66 and informed ofappropriate information from the turning tool 66 and operates theturning tool 66, is connected. The analysis area information includesmeasuring information measured by the various circuits and informationon the various analysis areas (blades) such as captured image data.

Next, the above-described circuits will be described in detail.

The numbering circuit is mainly constituted by a blade number providingcircuit 76 which provides numbers in order. It may include a turningtool communication circuit 90. The measuring circuit is mainlyconstituted by the range C1 in the drawing including a surface shaperecognition circuit 79. The characteristic extracting part, thecharacteristic value converting part, and the comprehensivecharacteristic value deriving part included in the measuring circuit C1are mainly constituted by the blade characteristic extracting circuit80. The evaluating part and the judging part of the present inventionare mainly constituted by a characteristic value judging circuit 81.

Furthermore, the first storage circuit and the second storage circuitare mainly constituted by the range C2 in the drawing including a bladecontour storage circuit 75, a blade image storage circuit 82, a bladeshape storage circuit 83, and a blade characteristic value storagecircuit 84. In this embodiment, the first storage circuit and the secondstorage circuit are formed by the same storage circuit in thisembodiment and are constructed so as to be different from each other inthe storage region inside, and the same applies to the description givenbelow. The identifying recognition circuit is mainly constituted by acharacteristic value comparing circuit 85.

Other illustrated circuits are briefly described although they aredescribed in detail in the description on operations given below. Ablade contour circuit 77 is a circuit which extracts a contour of ablade, and a blade position detecting circuit 78 is a circuit whichdetects whether the position of the blade is precise. A surface shaperecognition circuit 79 is a circuit which mainly extracts athree-dimensional shape as a surface shape of a blade, and to the databus 70, a LED lighting circuit 95, which controls the white LED 33provided as the illuminating part 30, is also connected. The bladecontour storage circuit 75 stores blade numbers provided by the bladenumber providing circuit 76 and the contours of the blades (commonlyused as the observation images in the present invention) by associatingthese with each other.

Next, operations of the endoscope device 1 in a first embodimentconstructed as described above will be described. That is, the insertionpart 20 of the endoscope 10 constructed as described above is insertedinto the access port 51 a of the jet engine J by the fixture 50. In thefixture 50, links are arranged so as to tightly attach the presserplates 58 and 59 to the side surface of the jet engine J, The turningtool 66 is connected to a rotary shaft (not shown) that pivotallysupports the blades H of the jet engine J. By using this turning tool66, the rotary shaft pivotally supporting the blades H is rotated tomove the blades H. The power supply of the controller 60 is turned onand the white LED 33 is turned on to illuminate the blade to be capturedby the imaging parts 22 and 23.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the insertion part 20 of the endoscope10 disposed between blades I on the fixing side (stator side) in the jetengine J captures the blade H on the movable side (rotor side) as ananalysis area. In this case, by the CMOS image sensors 22 d and 23 d ofthe imaging parts 22 and 23, image signals of imaging data of the bladeH are transmitted, and the image signals are temporarily stored in thefirst frame memory 61 and the second frame memory 62 described above.Then, necessary portions are arbitrarily cut from the image signals andtransmitted to the display frame memory 63, and further transmitted tothe monitor display 65 and displayed on the monitor as an observationimage. In this case, the imaging parts 22 and 23 are used as anobservation optical system.

On the other hand, imaging data of the first frame memory 61 istransmitted to the display frame memory 63 and the same imaging data isalso transmitted to the blade contour extracting circuit 77,simultaneously. In the blade contour extracting circuit 77, based on thetransmitted imaging data, a linear component and a brightness componentare subjected to appropriate calculation operation to extract thecontour of this blade H. The contour of the blade H extracted by theblade contour extracting circuit 77 is transmitted as measuringinformation for detecting the position of the blade H to the bladeposition detecting circuit 78.

In the blade position detecting circuit 77, the following process isperformed. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, first, two outlines areextracted with angles close to the transverse direction of the displayscreen G displayed based on the imaging data. Then, when the center lineT1 in the horizontal direction of the display screen is set between theextracted two outlines, it is determined that one blade is within animaging range in a desirable state, and an image signal thereof as theimaging data is transmitted to the blade contour storage circuit 75.This captured image signal is converted as a blade detection signal,When the center line T1 in the horizontal direction of the displayscreen is not set between the extracted two outlines, the process ismaintained in a standby state in which no blade detection signal istransmitted while continuously moving the blades H by the turning tool66 until the center line T1 in the horizontal direction of the displayscreen is set between the two outlines.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the center line T1 inthe horizontal direction of the display screen G is set between theextracted two outlines, it is determined that one blade is within thecapturing range in a desirable state, and an image signal as the imagedata is transmitted to the blade contour storage circuit 75. Even whenthe center line T1 in the horizontal direction of the display screen Gis set between the extracted two outlines, as shown in FIG. 7C, if ablade outline is present near the center line in the horizontaldirection of the display screen, that is, when the two outlines arearranged within the range from T2 to T3 (reference symbol D) arbitrarilyset, it is not determined that one blade is within the capturing rangein a desirable state. As shown in FIG. 7B, depending on the bladecapturing angle, a section between the blade H and its adjacent blade His captured in an enlarged manner. Even in this case, the blade positiondetecting circuit 78 transmits a blade detection signal in the samemanner as described above. That is, even when the outlines are plural,if the center line T1 in the horizontal direction of the display screenG is set between the plurality of outlines, it is determined that oneblade is within the capturing range in a desirable state, and a bladedetection signal is transmitted to the blade contour storage circuit 75.

In the blade contour storage circuit 75, every time when a bladedetection signal is transmitted from the blade position detectingcircuit 78, the contour of the blade H is stored based on the bladedetection signal. When storing the contour of the blade H, the bladecontour storage circuit 75 also stores a number (H1 to H31) of the bladeH simultaneously, which is provided by the blade number storage circuit76. Furthermore, image signals of the blade H corresponding to theoutline of the blade H at the moment the blade detection signal istransmitted are also extracted from the first frame memory 61 and thesecond frame memory 62 and stored in the blade image storage circuit 82.

When this blade detection signal is transmitted, in the surface shaperecognition circuit 79, stereoscopic measurement is performed based onthe image signals of the blade H extracted from the first frame memory61 and the second frame memory 62. This stereoscopic measurement is amethod for obtaining a stereoscopic image by applying arbitrarycalculation operations to the image signals of the blade H from the twoimaging parts 22 and 23 as described in the above Patent document 3. Astereoscopic surface shape image obtained by this stereoscopicmeasurement is stored in the blade shape storage circuit 83 togetherwith the number (H1 to H 31) of the blade H provided by the blade numberstorage circuit 76. Thereby, the outline of the blade H and thestereoscopic image of the blade H are stored as measuring information ofthe blade H together with the number (H1 to H31) provided for the bladeH.

Next, characteristics of the blade H to be extracted by the bladecharacteristic extracting circuit 80 will be described with reference toFIG. 8. The characteristics are damage characteristics mainly includingcracks W1, fractures W2, dents W3, and other deformations of the bladesH. The reference symbol G denotes a display image. FIG. 8A shows acontour image of a normal blade H. On the other hand, FIG. 8B shows anexample in which the blade H has a crack W1. In this example, fromdiscontinuity of the horizontal outline, it is determined that the bladeH has a crack W1. In detail, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 9A,an absolute value of a length of the horizontal discontinuous portion isextracted as a first contour characteristic value 101, and in thisdiscontinuous portion, an absolute value of an outline extending in thevertical direction orthogonal to the horizontal direction is extractedas a second contour characteristic value 102. A value obtained bydividing this second contour characteristic value 102 by the firstcontour characteristic value 101 is set as a crack characteristic value103.

On the other hand, FIG. 8C shows an example W2 in which a corner of theblade H is fractured. In this example, as shown in the enlarged view ofFIG. 9B, when it is detected that the intersection 104 between thevertical outline and the horizontal outline is not present and two bentpoints 105 a and 105 b are present in the display screen G displayedbased on image data, it is determined that this corner of the blade Hhas been fractured. Deviations 106 a and 106 b from the originalintersection between the vertical outline and the horizontal outline tothe bent points are set as corner fracture characteristic value 107.

FIG. 8E shows an example W3 in which the blade has a dent. In thisexample, as shown in FIG. 9C, when it is detected that the horizontaloutline is discontinuous and this outline projects upward or downwardvertically in the image screen G displayed based on imaging data, it isdetermined that something collided with this blade H and caused the dentW3. In this case, first, a depth of the dent W3 is set as a first dentcharacteristic value 108, and next, the distance between twointersections between a horizontal line at a position half the distancefrom this set first dent characteristic value 108 to the horizontaloutline and the outline is set as the second dent characteristic value109.

While the above-described characteristic values 102, 103, 107, 108, and109 are set, image data from the first frame memory 61 and the secondframe memory 62 are also transmitted to the surface shape recognitioncircuit 79. That is, at the time when the surface shape recognitioncircuit 79 receives a blade detection signal transmitted from the bladeposition detecting circuit 78, the surface shape recognition circuit 79acquires image data from the first frame memory 61 and the second framememory 62, calculates the surface shape of the blade H by means of theabove-described stereoscopic measurement, and the calculated surfaceshape of the blade H is transmitted to and stored in the blade shapestorage circuit 83.

While the characteristic values 102, 103, 107, 108, and 109 are set, inthe blade characteristic extracting circuit 80, from the image data fromthe first frame memory 61 and the second frame memory 62, colorinformation of the blade H is extracted as a characteristic value. Thatis, as shown in FIG. 10A, a distribution map of a chromaticity diagram Kindicated based on the image data is set by setting the horizontaldirection as an X direction and the vertical direction as a Y direction,and according to this distribution map, color information is extracted.

For example, FIG. 10A is a distribution map of a normal blade H, and asillustrated, in the blade H having no problem, the color information ofeach pixel is mainly distributed near the center 110. On the other hand,for example, as shown in FIG. 10B, when a portion 111 of the blade isburnt and stained burnt brown color, as shown in FIG. 10C against theburnt brown portion, the location and the burnt brown color region areextracted according to the above-described distribution map and are setas a burnt range characteristic value 112. As this color information,areas in not only the burnt brown color but also various colors areextracted and set as appropriate characteristic values. For example, anarea in burnt brown color is set as 112 a, an area in burnt red color isset as 112 b, an area in burnt blue color is set as 112 c, and a rangesize thereof is set as 112 d.

Furthermore, in the blade characteristic extracting circuit 80, from thesurface shape image data transmitted from the surface shape recognitioncircuit 79, the following characteristics are extracted and set. Thatis, as described above, based on the surface shape image data of theblade H calculated by stereoscopic measurement and stored in the bladeshape storage circuit, as shown in FIG. 11A, a three-dimensionaldistribution map is set wherein the horizontal direction of thedisplayed screen is set as an X direction, the vertical direction is setas a Y direction, the depth direction is set as a Z direction (see FIG.11B). In this case, points closest to the imaging parts 22 and 23 of theendoscope 10 are set as 0 in the Z direction.

Then, three-dimensional distribution coordinates of all points on theblade H are extracted. When all three-dimensional distributioncoordinates on the blade H are extracted, an average value Zm in the Zdirection of all 31 blades is extracted, and a difference dz of eachblade from the average Zm is extracted. When it is determined that thisdifference dz exceeds a predetermined threshold Zn, the deformation ofthe corresponding blade H is determined as conspicuous, and dz/Zn is setas a surface deformation characteristic value 113 of the surface shape.

Image data (blade outline, blade image, and blade surface shape, etc.)and characteristic values 102, 103, 107, 108, 109, 112 a, 112 b, 112 c,112 d, and 113 thus extracted are stored in the correspondence storagecircuits 75, 82, 83, and 84 while associated with blade numbers providedby the blade number providing circuit 76 The above-describedcharacteristic values 102, 103, 107, 108, 109, 112 a,112 b,112 c,112d,and 113 are stored in the blade characteristic value storage circuit84. Thus, the 31 blades H are successively stored, and when the turningtool communicating circuit 90 receives a signal indicating making onerevolution from the turning tool 66 meaning that the 31 blades have madeone revolution, storage of all image data and characteristic valuesends.

Thus, when the data of the 31 blades is stored, the stored contents aretransmitted to a characteristic determining circuit 81 to performdetermination of each stored characteristic values. The characteristicvalues to be determined by the characteristic determining circuit 81 areas shown in Table 1 below. In this characteristic determining circuit,based on the formula shown as (1), a comprehensive characteristic valueis extracted, and this comprehensive characteristic value is alsosimultaneously stored in the blade characteristic value storage circuit84. TABLE 1 Standardized Weighting Characteristic value coefficientcoefficient First contour characteristic value 102 P1 b1 a1 Crackcharacteristic value 103 P2 b2 a2 Corner fracture characteristic value107 P3 b3 a3 First dent characteristic value 108 P4 b4 a4 Second dentcharacteristic value 109 P5 b5 a5 Burnt brown color area 112a on bladeP6 b6 a6 surface Burnt red color area 112b on blade P7 b7 a7 surfaceBurnt blue color area 112c on blade P8 b8 a8 surface Burnt range size112d P9 b9 a9 Surface deformation value 113  P10  b10  a10 (1)${{Comprehensive}\quad{characteristic}\quad{value}} = {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{10}{{Pi} \times {bi} \times {ai}}}$

As described in Table 1, to each of the characteristic values,predetermined standardized coefficients (b1 to b10) are provided.Thereby, each characteristic value can be compared with othercharacteristic values by the same scale. As described in Table 1, toeach of the characteristic values, weighing coefficients (a1 to a10)using predetermined evaluation functions are provided. By summing thecharacteristic values by the functions of the formula (1) using thestandardized coefficients (b1 to b10) and the weighing coefficients (a1to a10), a comprehensive characteristic value obtained by summing thecharacteristic values of the blade H can be preferably derived.

These weighing coefficients (a1 to a10) successively weigh the damagecharacteristic values in order from the most important to the leastimportant, so that a damage characteristic which is slight in degree asa blade H is not greatly reflected on the comprehensive characteristicvalue, and damage characteristic values that are fatal upon a blade Hare greatly reflected on the comprehensive characteristic value. Forexample, in general, the crack W1 expands more rapidly than the dent W3.If this crack W1 expands, the corresponding blade becomes useless as ablade. Therefore, the weighing coefficients (a1 to a10) of the crackcharacteristic value 103 are selected twice the value of the weightingcoefficients of the dent characteristic values 108 and 109. Thereby,when extracting a comprehensive characteristic value, the crackcharacteristic value 103 is weighed twice as much as the dentcharacteristic values 108 and 109 so as to be greatly reflected on thecomprehensive characteristic value.

Herein, it is also possible that when the characteristic values 102,103, 107, 108, 109, 112 a,112 b,112 c,112 d,or 113 exceeds apredetermined threshold, the blade H having the characteristic valueexceeding the threshold is marked, or when a comprehensivecharacteristic value derived as described above exceeds a predeterminedthreshold, the blade having this comprehensive characteristic valueexceeding the threshold is marked, and then stored together with a bladenumber in each storage circuit 75, 82, 83, and 84. When thecharacteristic values 102, 103, 107, 108, 109, 112 a,112 b, 112 c,112d,or 113 exceed a predetermined threshold, this means that thecorresponding damage is conspicuous.

When the above-described series of operations are ended, based onstorage stored in the storage circuits 75, 82, 83, and 84, for example,the result of inspection as shown in FIG. 12 are displayed on themonitor display 65. This result of inspection is displayed so that theentire image corresponding to the number of blades H is displayed and animage of a portion and a blade with regard to the characteristic valueexceeding a threshold as described above can be selected.

Next, a characteristic value comparing circuit 85 which compares thecharacteristic values will be described. In this characteristic valuecomparing circuit 85, any arbitrarily selected one of the characteristicvalues 102, 103, 107, 108, 109, 112 a, 112 b,112 c,112 d,and 113 of theblades previously stored in the storage circuits 75, 82, 83, and 84 andnewly acquired and stored characteristic values corresponding to thearbitrarily selected characteristic value of the blades H are comparedwith each other. That is, to associate newly acquired and storedcharacteristic values of the blades with the previously storedcharacteristic values of the blades, it is necessary to identify bladescorresponding to the blade numbers of the previous blades. That is,every time when the blade H is observed, it is unknown which new bladecorresponds to the number of the previous blade H, so that the new bladecorresponding to the previous number must be identified.

Therefore, in detail, as shown in Table 2 below, a list of values of anarbitrarily selected characteristic of the blades H which werepreviously stored and a list of values of the arbitrarily selectedcharacteristic of the blades H which were newly stored are compared witheach other, at a point at which the number of matching points of thearbitrarily selected characteristics value is maximized, the previousblade numbers (H1 to H31) are identified, and the new arbitrarilyselected characteristic values of the current blades (H1 to H31) arestored by being associated with the identified blade numbers (H1 toH31). When the new arbitrarily selected characteristic values are storedby being thus associated, as shown in FIG. 13, on the monitor display65, the previous images and the current images are displayed byrearranging orders for easy comparison. When the previous images and thecurrent images are thus rearranged and displayed, an operator canpreferably notice a change in the state over time for the same blade.TABLE 2 (a) Characteristic value 0 3 0 0 8 0 0 . . . 0 Previous Blade H₁H₂ H₃ H₄ H₅ H₆ H₇ . . . H₃₁ (b) Characteristic value 0 0 0 3 0 1 9 . . .2 Current Blade H₁ H₂ H₃ H₄ H₅ H₆ H₇ . . . H₃₁ (c) Characteristic value0 3 0 1 9 0 0 . . . 0 Current Blade H₃ H₄ H₅ H₆ H₇ H₈ H₉ . . . H₃₁

In the above-described characteristic value comparing circuit 85, anyarbitrarily selected one of the characteristic values 102, 103, 107,108, 109, 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, 112 d, and 113 of the blade H previouslystored in the storage circuits 75, 82, 83, and 84 and a newly acquiredand stored characteristic value of the blade H corresponding to thearbitrarily selected one are compared with each other, however, withoutlimiting to this, the arbitrarily selected characteristic value may beplural, or may be the comprehensive characteristic value.

The above-described series of steps are performed based on programs setfor each circuit; however, it is also possible that the steps areperformed by the CPU 72 based on a program connected to the data bus 70and stored in the program memory 71. With regard to moving the blades H,instead of using the turning tool 66, the blades H may be moved bymanual operations by an operator. In this case, it is enough that thecontroller 60 is informed of only the start of measurement. In additionto the above-described circuit, even when arbitrary circuits areprovided; it is not a deviation from the spirit of the presentinvention.

As described above, in this endoscope device, by the characteristicvalue comparing circuit (identifying recognition part) 85, information(including observation images) including characteristic values measuredby the various circuits as the previous (first) information of theblades H and information including characteristic values measured by thevarious circuits as the current (second) information of the blades H arecompared to identify the previous information of the blades Hcorresponding to the current information of the blades H, and the newlyacquired current information of the blades H are stored in the storagecircuits 75, 82, 83, and 84, so that the comparison between the previousinformation of the blades H and the current information of the blades Hbecomes easy. Thereby, changes in the state of the blades H can bepreferably noticed. The blades H are also provided with numbers(numbered), so that it is also possible to immediately read the noticedchange in the state of the blade H which an operator desired to observein detail from the storage circuits 75, 82, 83, and 84. That is, changesin the state of the plurality of blades H can be noticed at one time,and furthermore, the blades H can be accurately inspected one by one, sothat automation (labor saving) of the process is realized and thedifficulty in the inspection can be eliminated.

In this endoscope device 1, the measuring optical system also serves asan observation optical system, so that it becomes unnecessary to newlyprovide an observation optical system for imaging to observe the bladesH and the number of parts can be reduced, and the insertion part 20 canbe made compact. This endoscope device 1 includes a movement operatingpart which successively moves the blades H so that the blades H arecaptured by the observation optical system and the measuring opticalsystem, and when the movement operating part moves one of the pluralityof the blades H and when the movement operating part moves the pluralityof blades H so that the plurality of blades make one revolution, themovement operating part informs the measuring circuit C1 or the bladenumber providing circuit 76 of this, so that it is not necessary both toindependently count the movements of the blades H one by one or toconfirm the revolution of the blades H. Thereby, the control can besimplified.

In this endoscope device 1, when comparing previous characteristicvalues of the blade H with new characteristic values, the multiple kindsof characteristics can be compared with each other in time series, sothat changes in the state of the blade H can be easily noticed. In thisendoscope device 1, the multiple kinds of characteristics to beextracted by the measuring circuit C1 are cracks, fractures, dents, anddamages including other deformations of the blades H, so that the damageconditions of the blades H can be easily noticed and replacement timingof the blades H can be preferably noticed.

In this endoscope device 1, multiple kinds of characteristic values aresubjected to standard quantification, so that the multiple kinds ofcharacteristic values can be compared with each other by the same scale.When the characteristics are thus quantified, the degrees of thecharacteristics can be determined by the numerical values, and thecharacteristics can be easily determined. In this endoscope device 1,comprehensive damage values can be derived to the measuring circuit C1,so that by comparing comprehensive damage characteristic values, damageas one blade can be determined. When comprehensive characteristics arethus quantified, the degrees of the characteristics can be determined bythe numerical values, and the damage characteristics can be easilydetermined.

The characteristic value determining circuit 81 may be constituted so asto provide appropriate evaluation to each blade based on the derivedcharacteristic values according to, for example, a five grade system.Based on the evaluations, according to whether the threshold isexceeded, the blades H are determined as conforming or nonconforming.When evaluation and determination are thus performed, withoutdetermination by a skilled operator, the replacement timings of theblades H are instantaneously known.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

Next, a second embodiment different from the above-described firstembodiment will be described. The endoscope device in this secondembodiment and the endoscope device in the first embodiment aredifferent from each other in the constitution of image measurement forstereoscopic capturing. That is, in the endoscope 10 of the firstembodiment, when stereoscopically capturing the blades H, a stereoscopicmeasuring method is used, however, in the endoscope 10A of the secondembodiment, for stereoscopic capturing, a laser line measuring method(light-section method) is used. Components constituted in the samemanner as in the endoscope device of the first embodiment are attachedwith the same symbols, and descriptions thereof are omitted. In thefirst imaging part 22 of the endoscope device of this second embodiment,instead of the CMOS image sensor 22 d (see FIG. 5), a CCD (ChargeCoupled Devices) image sensor 22 g is provided.

That is, at a portion of the second imaging part of the endoscope deviceof the first embodiment, instead of the imaging part 23 constituted asdescribed above, a laser line measuring mechanism 24 is provided. Asshown in the external view of FIG. 14 and the sectional view of FIG. 15,to the second observation window 24 a of the first embodiment, aprojecting window frame 24 b is attached, and in the insertion part 20 Anear this projecting window frame 24 b, a laser line measuring device 25which irradiates the blades H with light through this observation window24 a is provided. This laser line measuring device 25 mainly includes,as shown in FIG. 16, a triangle mirror 25 a rotatably and pivotallysupported, a motor 25 b for rotating this triangle mirror 25 a, a laserdiode 25 c for irradiating this triangle mirror 25 a, and a cylindricallens 25 d disposed between the laser diode 25 c and the triangle mirror25 a. This laser diode 25 c is connected to the laser diode lightingcircuit 67 of the controller 60 by an arbitrary electric wire 67 a.

To the rotary shaft of the motor 25 b, a pulley 25 e is attached, and apulley 25 f is attached to a rotary shaft as well which pivotallysupports the triangle mirror 25 a, and around these pulleys 25 e and 25f, an endless timing belt 25 g is wound so as to interlock the pulleys25 e and 25 f with each other. To the rotary shaft of the pulley 25 fpivotally supporting the triangle mirror 25 a, an arbitrary encoder 25 his provided, and in this projection window frame 24 b, an arbitrary slit(not shown) is formed. This encoder is connected to an encoder inputcircuit 68 of the controller 60 by an arbitrary electric wire 68 a.

According to the laser line measuring mechanism 25 thus constituted, asshown in FIG. 16, a laser beam L emitted from the laser diode 25 c istransmitted through the cylindrical lens 25 d and made incident on thetriangle mirror 25 a, and the laser beam L that has been made incidenton the triangle mirror 25 a is reflected by the triangle mirror 25 a.Thereby, the laser beam shines out from the second observation window 24a toward the blades H. Furthermore, according to the rotation of thetriangle mirror 25 a, the laser beam is transmitted through the slitformed in the projection window frame 24 b, whereby the laser beam(linear in the vertical direction) La shining out from the laser linemeasuring mechanism 25 moves while slidingly irradiating the blades H.At this time, the first imaging part 22 captures the laser beam movingon the blades H. FIG. 18 is a display image on the monitor display 65when the laser beam is irradiated

The laser beam L that thus slidingly irradiates the blades H is capturedis not finished, the CPU 72 turns the white LED 33 off and turns thelaser diode 25 c on (S17). Then, the CPU 72 rotates the triangle mirror25 a.

According to this rotation of the triangle mirror 25 a, the laser beam(linear in the vertical direction) which is output by transmittingthrough the projection window frame 24 b moves while irradiating theblade H, and at the same time, the first imaging part 22 captures thelaser beam La moving on this blade H. That is, the blade H is scanned.

Then, the surface shape recognition circuit 79, based on the images ofthe blades H which are line-sectioned and captured by the first imagingpart 22, applies arbitrary calculation operations (based on atriangulation method) to the position of the captured line and arbitraryinformation of the encoder input circuit 68 (S18). Thereby, athree-dimensional surface shape of the blade H is calculated. Then, whenthe calculation of the three-dimensional surface shape of the blade H isfinished (completely scanned), the CPU 72 turns the laser diode 25 c offand turns the white LED 33 on (S19). This series of steps (S14 to S16)are repeated until scanning of all 31 blades (H1 to H31) is finished. AtS16 described above, when the calculation of the three-dimensionalsurface shapes of all 31 blades is finished, comprehensivecharacteristic values or the like are calculated (S20), and the resultsof calculation are displayed on the monitor display part 65 and theprocess ends (S21).

In other words, until capturing by the first imaging part 22 iscompleted, the turning tool 66 is controlled via the turning toolcommunicating circuit 90 to prevent the movement of the 31 blades, thatis, prevent rotation of the rotary shaft to which the blades H areattached

In other words, every time the blades H are moved by a distancecorresponding to one blade by the turning tool 66, the blades H isconfirmed whether they are standing still or not by the blade positiondetecting circuit 78, and thereafter, a surface shape of the blade H isscanned by the laser line is not finished, the CPU 72 turns the whiteLED 33 off and turns the laser diode 25 c on (S17). Then, the CPU 72rotates the triangle mirror 25 a.

According to this rotation of the triangle mirror 25 a, the laser beam(linear in the vertical direction) which is output by transmittingthrough the projection window frame 24 b moves while irradiating theblade H, and at the same time, the first imaging part 22 captures thelaser beam La moving on this blade H. That is, the blade H is scanned.

Then, the surface shape recognition circuit 79, based on the images ofthe blades H which are line-sectioned and captured by the first imagingpart 22, applies arbitrary calculation operations (based on atriangulation method) to the position of the captured line and arbitraryinformation of the encoder input circuit 68 (S18). Thereby, athree-dimensional surface shape of the blade H is calculated. Then, whenthe calculation of the three-dimensional surface shape of the blade H isfinished (completely scanned), the CPU 72 turns the laser diode 25 c offand turns the white LED 33 on (S19). This series of steps (S14 to S16)are repeated until scanning of all 31 blades (H1 to H31) is finished. AtS16 described above, when the calculation of the three-dimensionalsurface shapes of all 31 blades is finished, comprehensivecharacteristic values or the like are calculated (S20), and the resultsof calculation are displayed on the monitor display part 65 and theprocess ends (S21).

In other words, until capturing by the first imaging part 22 iscompleted, the turning tool 66 is controlled via the turning toolcommunicating circuit 90 to prevent the movement of the 31 blades, thatis, prevent rotation of the rotary shaft to which the blades H areattached.

In other words, every time the blades H are moved by a distancecorresponding to one blade by the turning tool 66, the blades H isconfirmed whether they are standing still or not by the blade positiondetecting circuit 78, and thereafter, a surface shape of the blade H isscanned by the laser line measuring mechanism 25. When the blades aremoved by a distance of one blade or the set of 31 blades are moved (makeone revolution), the turning tool informs the blade position detectingcircuit of this.

By this stereoscopic (three-dimensional) capturing, the depth of theblade can be easily measured in addition to the longitudinal length andthe transverse length of the blade, and characteristics thereof can bemore preferably noticed. In addition, a laser line measuring method(light-section method) is used, so that the manufacturing cost can bereduced.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

Next, a third embodiment different from the first embodiment and thesecond embodiment described above will be described. The endoscopedevice 10B in this third embodiment is different from the firstembodiment in that two sets of the optical system M including the firstimaging part and the second imaging part of the endoscope device 10described in the first embodiment are provided in the longitudinaldirection of the insertion part 20 The endoscope device 10B in thisthird embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in thatthe illuminating part 30 of the endoscope device 10 described in thefirst embodiment is provided in an elongated member 42 which is providedso as to extend in parallel in an axial direction of the insertion part20 and move toward and away from the insertion part 20 via a link member41.

The components constituted similarly to those of the endoscope device 10of the first embodiment are attached with the same reference symbols anddescription thereof will be omitted. The additional set of the opticalsystem M includes imaging parts 27 and 28, and description thereof isomitted by replacing “22 ” of the reference symbols (22 a through 22 f)attached in the second imaging part 22 with “27 ” and “28 ” and usingthe replaced numbers in the drawing. The first imaging part 22 of thefirst optical system M1 is connected to the first frame memory 61 a, thesecond imaging part 23 of the first optical system M1 is connected tothe second frame memory 62 a, the first imaging part 27 of the secondoptical system M2 is connected to the third frame memory 61 b, and thesecond imaging part 28 of the second optical system M2 is connected tothe fourth frame memory 62 b (see FIG. 23). Images captured by the firstoptical system M1 and the second optical system M2 are pieced togetherso as to form an image of the whole of the blade H.

In detail, as shown in the external view of FIG. 20 and the sectionalview of FIG. 21, the insertion part 20 of the endoscope 20B includes oneset of optical systems (first optical system set) M1 including the firstimaging part 22 and the second imaging part 23 which are provided in theinsertion part 20 of the endoscope 10 of the first embodiment describedabove, and another optical system (second optical system set) M2including the third imaging part 27 and the fourth imaging part 28,provided on proximal side of the one set of the optical system.

The first optical system set M1 and the second optical system set M2 areprovided by being shifted from each other along the circumferentialdirection of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion part 20 inwhich they are installed. That is, as shown in FIG. 20, the secondoptical set M2 is shifted to an upper side by an angle of about 20degrees in the circumferential direction of the insertion part 20 thanthe first optical system M

That is, a deviation K is given between the optical systems M1 and M2 asillustrated. In other words, as shown in the schematic view of FIG. 22C,a capturing central direction of the optical system M1 is indicated asR1, and a capturing central direction of the optical system M2 isindicated as R2. When performing capturing by these first optical systemM1 and second optical system M2, the center of the blade H to becaptured is moved to the central direction R3 which is located betweenthe first optical system M1 and the second optical system M2.

Furthermore, in the insertion part 20 of the endoscope device 10B of thethird embodiment, two link members 41 are rotatably and pivotallysupported. Ends of the link members 41 are rotatably and pivotallysupported on the insertion part 20, and the other ends rotatably andpivotally support the elongated member 42. The elongated member 42pivotally supported by the link members 41 is constituted so as toextend in parallel in the axial direction of the insertion part 20, andbecomes capable of moving toward and away from the insertion part 20 bybeing pivotally supported by the link members 41. In the above-describedelongated member 42, a plurality of white LEDs 33 a for illuminating theblade H are arranged in line along the longitudinal direction. Thesewhite LEDs 33 a are connected to the LED circuit 95 (see FIG. 23).

As shown in FIG. 22A which is a view of FIG. 20 from the back side andFIG. 22B which is a sectional view along Q-Q of FIG. 20, to the ends ofthe link members 41 pivotally supported on the insertion part 20, oneend of an operating shaft 45 is connected at a side further inward thanthe points where the link members are pivotally supported on theinsertion portion 20. The other end of the operating shaft 45 isconnected to the operating lever 46 which is pivotally supported by thehandle part 11. Thereby, according to a rotational operation of anoperation lever 46, the operating shaft 45 can be pushed toward thedistal end 20 a side of the insertion part 20 and pulled toward theproximal end side 20 b of the insertion part 20. Thereby, the linkmembers 41 connected to the operating shaft 45 are raised from or moveddown to the insertion part 20. Thereby, the elongated member 42connected to the link members 41 is moved toward and away from theinsertion part 20 while maintained to be in parallel to the insertionpart 20.

The endoscope device 10B of the third embodiment thus constitutedprovides the following effects. That is, two sets of optical systems Mare provided, so that capturing on a wide range is possible. Forexample, even when a blade or the like which is too large to bepreferably captured by one set of optical systems is desired to becaptured, without dividing the range of this large blade H, the blade Hcan be captured at one time. Furthermore, conventionally, whenattempting to capture such a large blade H at one time, a wide-anglelens is used, however, when capturing is performed by using such awide-angle lens, the resolution of a captured image is low, and when theblade is measured by the measuring circuit C1 based on the capturedimage, the measurement accuracy becomes low. However, as in the case ofthe endoscope device 10B of this third embodiment, when two sets ofoptical systems are provided, the resolution of the captured images canbe increased, so that the blade H can be captured with high accuracy.

In addition, the white LEDs 33 are provided in the elongated member 42,so that a problem in which intensive light that has struck the blade Hbecomes difficult to enter the imaging parts 22, 23, 27, and 28 andblurred images in white (halation) hardly occur, so that observation andmeasurement of the blade H can be preferably performed, Furthermore, theilluminating part 30B is arranged in the longitudinal direction of theelongated member, so that even when the blade H is constituted long, thewhole of the blade H can be illuminated.

The endoscope device according to the present invention is not limitedto the above-described embodiments, and can be selectively constitutedarbitrarily within a range with no deviation from the spirit of thepresent invention.

For example, the emitting part of the above-described embodiments isconstituted by an LED, however, the present invention is not limited tothis, and it may be constituted by an arbitrary light source such as alamp or a light guide or the like. The endoscope device of the presentinvention may be provided with three or more sets of the above-describedoptical system M1 (M2).

In the above-described embodiments, when imaging a blade as an analysisarea, it is captured while illuminated by the illuminating part.However, it is also possible that the illuminating part is turned onlike a photoflash in timing, at which the position of the blade isdetected, to illuminate and capture the analysis area. In the case wherethe illuminating part is thus turned on like a photoflash, there is anadvantage that a still image with reduced blur can be preferablycaptured.

It is also possible that, instead of the illuminating part of theabove-described embodiments, a random pattern is projected so as to makematching of stereoscopic measurement easier.

In this endoscope device, the identifying recognition part identifiesthe first analysis area information corresponding to the second analysisarea information by comparing the first analysis area information andthe second analysis area information, and when the second storage partnewly stores second analysis area information, the first storage partstores second analysis area information corresponding to the firstanalysis area information identified by the identifying recognition partin addition to the first analysis area information, and this makeseasier the comparison between the previous first analysis areainformation and the updated second analysis area information. Thereby,changes in the state of the analysis areas can be preferably noticed.Furthermore, due to numbering by the numbering part, noticed changes inthe state of the analysis area can be read from the storage partsimmediately. That is, changes in the state of the analysis area can benoticed at one time, and furthermore, the analysis area can beaccurately inspected respectively, so that automation of the process(labor saving) is realized and the difficulty in the inspection can beeliminated.

In this endoscope device, the measuring optical system also serves as anobservation optical system, so that it becomes unnecessary to provide anew observation optical system for capturing the analysis areas forobservation and the number of parts can be reduced. Thus, the insertionpart can be made compact. No observation optical system is additionallyprovided, and this leads to a reduction in manufacturing cost.

This endoscope device includes a movement operating part whichsuccessively moves analysis areas so that the analysis areas arecaptured by the observation optical system and the measuring opticalsystem, and the movement operating part is constituted so that, when itmoves one of a plurality of the analysis areas and when it moves theplurality of analysis areas so that the plurality of the analysis areasmakes one revolution, the movement operating part informs the measuringpart or numbering part of this, so that the analysis areas can be movedat the measuring part so they are preferably captured. With regard tothe numbering parts, images of the individual analysis areas can bequickly numbered without counting movements of the analysis areas one byone and without confirming the plurality of the analysis areas to makeone revolution.

In the measuring part of this endoscope device, a characteristicextracting part which extracts multiple kinds of characteristics fromthe measuring information is provided, and the first storage part andthe second storage part store the multiple kinds of characteristics aspart of the measuring information, so that in comparison between theprevious measuring information and the updated measuring information ofthe analysis areas, multiple kinds of characteristics can be compared intime series, and this makes easier to notice changes in the state of theanalysis areas.

In this endoscope device, multiple kinds of characteristics to beextracted by the characteristic extracting part are cracks, fractures,dents, and damages including other deformations of the analysis areas,and this makes easier to notice the damaged conditions of the analysisareas and also makes preferable to notice replacement timing of theanalysis areas.

In the measuring part of this endoscope device, a characteristic valueconverting part is provided which converts the multiple kinds ofcharacteristics into multiple kinds of characteristic values, which wasnormally quantified by a predetermined evaluating calculation, and thefirst storage part and the second storage part store the multiple kindsof characteristic values as a part of the measuring information, so thatwhen comparing the previous measuring information with the updatedmeasuring information of the analysis area, the multiple kinds ofcharacteristic values, which are normally quantified, are only compared.This quantification of the characteristics makes it possible todetermine the value of the characteristics by the amount of thenumerical values, so that the characteristics can be easily determined.

The standard quantification means quantification of the multiple kindsof characteristics so that they are easily compared, and according tothe standard quantification, various characteristics can be determinedby the same scale, and makes easier to notice changes in the state ofthe analysis areas and accordingly makes preferable to determine theanalysis areas.

In the measuring part of this endoscope device, a comprehensivecharacteristic value deriving part is provided which drives acomprehensive characteristic value of an analysis area by weighting andsumming up the multiple kinds of characteristic values, and the firststorage part and the second storage part store the multiple kinds of thecomprehensive characteristic values as a part of the measuringinformation, so that even if each of the various characteristics aresmall or the characteristics are great as a whole, the characteristicsas a whole can be determined by comparing the comprehensivecharacteristic values. By thus quantifying the comprehensivecharacteristics as described above, the amount of the characteristicscan be determined by the numerical values, and the characteristics canbe easily determined, Therefore, a comprehensive (whole) characteristicof each analysis area can be determined, and a change in the state ofthe analysis area can be easily noticed and the analysis area can bepreferably determined.

In this endoscope device, changes in the state of analysis areas whichbecome easier to be noticed can be evaluated by the evaluating part, sothat it becomes easy to determine whether the analysis areas areconforming or nonconforming.

In this endoscope device, the judging part which determines whether theanalysis areas are conforming or nonconforming based on the evaluationmade by the evaluating part is provided, so that from the determinationwhether the analysis areas are conforming or nonconforming made by thejudging part, replacement timing of the analysis areas areinstantaneously known without the operator's judgment.

In this endoscope device, the measuring optical system has two or moreimaging parts whose installation positions are shifted from each otherto stereoscopically image an analysis area so that when measuring animage of the analysis area by the measuring part, a three-dimensionalimage of the analysis area can be measured. Thereby, the depth of thisanalysis area can also be measured as well as the longitudinal lengthand transverse length. That is, the analysis area can bethree-dimensionally measured, and the characteristics thereof can bemore preferably noticed.

In this endoscope device, the measuring optical system has an imagingpart which captures an analysis area by the light-section method, andstereoscopically captures the analysis area, so that although only oneimaging part is provided, when measuring an image of an analysis area bythe measuring part, a three-dimensional image of the analysis area canbe measured. Thereby, the depth of the analysis area can also bemeasured as well as the longitudinal length and the transverse length,the analysis area can be three-dimensionally measured, and thecharacteristics of the analysis area can be more preferably noticed.

In the insertion part of this endoscope device, an illuminating partwhich illuminates the analysis area is provided, so that it becomesunnecessary to separately provide illuminating means for illuminatingthe analysis area, and the whole of the endoscope device can be madecompact. This action is particularly advantageous when a region forinserting the endoscope into the area to be analyzed is especiallynarrow. It is unnecessary to separately provide an illuminating means,so that the manufacturing cost can also be reduced.

In the insertion part of this endoscope device, an elongated memberwhich extends in parallel in an axial direction of the insertion partand is movable toward and away from the insertion part via a link memberis provided. In the elongated member, an illuminating part whichilluminates an analysis area is arranged in line in a longitudinaldirection, so that the illuminating part can move forward and away fromthe insertion part so as to properly adjust the light intensity forilluminating the analysis area. The illuminating part is provided in theelongated member separated from the insertion part provided with theobservation optical system and the measuring optical system, so thatlight for inspection enters the observation optical system and themeasuring optical system at an arbitrary angle of inclination. Then, anintensive light hardly enters, thereby a problem in which the analysisarea (halation) blurred hardly occurs, and the analysis area ispreferably observed and measured. Furthermore, the illuminating part isarranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the elongatedmember, so that even when the area to be analyzed is long, the whole ofthe analysis area can be illuminated.

In this endoscope device, two or more sets of the measuring opticalsystems are provided in the longitudinal direction of the insertionpart, so that even when the area to be analyzed is long, the whole ofthis analysis area can be observed (measured) at one time, and so thatthe difficulty in observation (measurement) of an analysis area bydividing can be eliminated.

In this endoscope device, the sets of the measuring optical systems areprovided by being shifted from each other in the circumferentialdirection of the insertion part, so that a range to be observed(measured) of an analysis area can be expanded in the circumferentialdirection of the insertion part. Thereby, the problem in observation(measurement) of the analysis area by dividing the analysis area can besolved.

According to the endoscope device of the present invention, wheninspecting turbine blades of jet engines, automation (labor saving) ofthis inspection process is realized by reducing the number of steps ofthe inspection, and the difficulty in the analysis area inspection canbe eliminated.

1. An endoscope device comprising: an insertion part which includes anobservation optical system which captures a plurality of analysis areasfor observation; a measuring optical system which captures the analysisarea for measurement; a numbering part which numbers observation imagesof the respective analysis areas captured by the observation opticalsystem; a measuring part which extracts measuring information based onmeasuring images of the respective analysis areas captured by themeasuring optical system; a first storage part which stores firstanalysis area information which includes the observation images numberedby the numbering part and corresponding measuring information of theanalysis areas associated with the observation images extracted by themeasuring part; a second storage part which stores second analysis areainformation which includes new observation images captured by theobservation optical system and newly numbered by the numbering part andnew corresponding measuring information of the analysis areas associatedwith the new observation images extracted by the measuring part; and anidentifying recognition part which identifies the first analysis areainformation corresponding to the second analysis area information bycomparing the first analysis area information and the second analysisarea information, wherein when the second storage part newly stores thesecond analysis area information, the first storage part stores thesecond analysis area information corresponding to the first analysisarea information identified by the identifying recognition part inaddition to the first analysis area information.
 2. The endoscope deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the measuring optical system also servesas the observation optical system.
 3. The endoscope device according toclaims 1 or 2 further comprising: a movement operating part whichsuccessively moves the analysis area so that the analysis areas arecaptured by the observation optical system and the measuring opticalsystem, wherein when the movement operating part moves one of theanalysis areas and when the movement operating part moves the pluralityof the analysis area so that the plurality of the analysis areas makeone revolution, the movement operating part informs the measuring partor the numbering parts of this.
 4. The endoscope device according toclaim 1, wherein the measuring part further comprises a characteristicextracting part which extracts multiple kinds of characteristics fromthe measuring information, and the first storage part and the secondstorage part store the multiple kinds of the characteristics as a partof the measuring information.
 5. The endoscope device according to claim4, wherein the multiple kinds of the characteristics to be extracted bythe characteristic extracting part are cracks, fractures, dents, anddamages including other deformations of the analysis area.
 6. Theendoscope device according to claims 4, wherein the measuring part isprovided with a characteristic value converting part which converts themultiple kinds of characteristics into multiple kinds of characteristicvalues subjected to standard quantification by a predeterminedevaluating calculation operation, and the first storage part and thesecond storage part store the multiple kinds of characteristic values asa part of the measuring information.
 7. The endoscope device accordingto claim 6, wherein the measuring part is provided with a comprehensivecharacteristic value deriving part which derives comprehensivecharacteristic value of the analysis areas by weighting and summing themultiple kinds of the characteristic values, and the first storage partand the second storage part store multiple kinds of the comprehensivecharacteristic values as a part of the measuring information.
 8. Theendoscope device according to claim 1 further comprising: an evaluatingpart which evaluates the first analysis area information and the secondanalysis area information.
 9. The endoscope device according to claim 8further comprising: a judging part which determines whether the analysisarea is conforming or nonconforming based on the evaluation made by theevaluating part.
 10. The endoscope device according to claim 1, whereinthe measuring optical system comprises two or more of the imaging partswhose installation positions are shifted from each other andstereoscopically captures the analysis area.
 11. The endoscope deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the measuring optical system comprises animaging part which captures the analysis area according to alight-section method and stereoscopically captures the analysis area.12. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein the insertionpart is provided with an illuminating part which illuminates an analysisarea.
 13. The endoscope device according to claim 1, wherein, theinsertion part is provided with an elongated member which extends inparallel in an axial direction of the insertion part and approaches andmoves away from the insertion part via a link member, and the elongatedmember is provided with an illuminating part which illuminates theanalysis area and is arranged in line in a longitudinal direction of theelongated member.
 14. The endoscope device according to claim 1, whereintwo or more sets of the measuring optical systems are provided in alongitudinal direction of the insertion part.
 15. The endoscope deviceaccording to claim 14, wherein the sets of the measuring optical systemsare shifted from each other in a circumferential direction of theinsertion part.